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Old 11-19-2020, 02:29 PM   #1
spearomurray
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Carbon stringers

Hi guys, I'm laying up a few blanks for myself this winter. I would like to try some with a few carbon stringers in the blank. Anyone have suggestions for sources for longer strips? Pulltruded vs. other types? Some carbon layups better to deal with during shaping than others?
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Old 11-23-2020, 08:43 AM   #2
Mikel_24
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Re: Carbon stringers

I just cut long strips out of bidirectional cloth. Since my main use is carbon skinning, it doesn't hurt much to cut lengthwise. You just need to make sure the main piece is at least as long as your blank.

Don't worry much about the lamination, you are going to clamp it and it will be mostly hidden once the gun is finished. If you go for looks, you will have to use at least two plies. A single piece of cloth might not give the effect your are looking for.

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Old 11-23-2020, 04:48 PM   #3
spearomurray
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Re: Carbon stringers

Thanks for your reply Mikel. I'm going to go with your suggestion. It doesn't seem out of reach for my skillset. Right now I'm planning out a few builds. I'd like to build a gun that can send a 10mm shaft to 10m.

I have mocked up a design for a 72" water-ballasted gun with 2X 1-3/4 in carbon tubes, and a third 1.25" tube. By my numbers this gun, if built, should hold about 10.5 lbs of water, and weight between 14 and 16 lbs dry (without shaft). But it is damn bulky at 3.15 x 4.5 in. This certainly would still be a challenge to travel with, despite the light dry weight accomplished with water ballasting. This gun would likely be driving a 10mm shaft with 7X 16mm bands. I may re-design the muzzle to get the bands to lay better.

Alternatively, I could try to build a large inverted roller like one recently posted by Satdiver. That gun weighs in at 12.3 lbs with a 10mm shaft. If it does perform just as well as the larger, heavier water ballasted gun, there's no doubt it would be easier to travel with. The only really big advantage to the water ballasted gun would then be simplicity. I guess I really have no option but to build both. Really the only way to get the best comparison....
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Old 11-24-2020, 04:55 AM   #4
Mikel_24
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Re: Carbon stringers

Quote:
Originally Posted by spearomurray View Post
... a gun that can send a 10mm shaft to 10m.

.. driving a 10mm shaft with 7X 16mm bands. I....
I suggest you get in contact with a whale-hunting supplier and see if they have any new-old stock harpoon cannons on sale...

Best of luck and keep us posted!

Mikel
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Old 11-24-2020, 04:32 PM   #5
JameyK
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Re: Carbon stringers

Holy cow that would be a cannon! Please share the results
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Old 12-03-2020, 02:17 AM   #6
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Re: Carbon stringers

Carbon stringers are far more abrasive than I expected. They chewed up one of my thickness plane blades. Tried it with a tungsten router straightening jig with more success though it took the edge off that too. One of the blanks twisted against the carbon. I will give them a miss as they add nothing to my specific builds.
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Old 12-03-2020, 04:45 AM   #7
Mikel_24
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Re: Carbon stringers

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Originally Posted by Pankrationist View Post
Carbon stringers are far more abrasive than I expected. They chewed up one of my thickness plane blades. Tried it with a tungsten router straightening jig with more success though it took the edge off that too. One of the blanks twisted against the carbon. I will give them a miss as they add nothing to my specific builds.
Same (or worse) goes with the glass fibers, you are better off using abrasives.

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